The Daughters Of Atlas In Shazam 2 And How They've Changed From The Comics
"Shazam! Fury of the Gods" comes out at a weird time, now that the DC Extended Universe is seemingly dead and James Gunn's new DC Studios is alive, well, and rebooting the franchise for the future. But that doesn't mean there isn't still time to enjoy Zachary Levi in his stellar performance as the child-turned-superhero in the sequel to his 2019 big-screen debut.
Now that he has established a new family of fellow foster kids who have all been endowed with the powers of the imprisoned gods of the past, Shazam faces a new threat from the offspring of one of those gods, the Daughters of Atlas. While they may have a good reason to beef with the Shazam bunch, who are the Daughters of Atlas, and how do they differ from the comics?
While the three daughters — Hespera, Kalypso, and Anthea — are ripped straight from Greek mythology, they have no origins in the comics themselves. In the Greek myth, the three are nymphs who were sired by Atlas before he was forced to hold up the Earth for all of eternity. The immense amount of stamina needed for him to accomplish such a feat is why it's said that Shazam was bestowed the stamina of Atlas. Even though they don't have a history in the comics, the Daughters still pose a considerable threat to the Shazam family; let's explore who he and his friends are up against.
Helen Mirren is Hespera
Like her two sisters, Helen Mirren's Hespera was created for the movie. Her character is described as the eldest daughter of the Titan Atlas and the goddess of immortality. Even though there is no true comic book counterpart to her movie character, we can glean a little of what to expect from her presence in the Greek myths.
According to the mythology, Atlas had an unconfirmed number of daughters known as the Hesperides (which would almost certainly be the source of Helen Mirren's name). The majority of their stories involve the collection of sisters protecting the golden apple tree.
Much of the background of Mirren's character has been kept under wraps until now, but being the goddess of immortality offers her some intriguing opportunities for character depth. Having lived so long, she could have a very interesting relationship with the concepts of right and wrong. The conflict could put her on the other side of her sisters just as much as Shazam.
Lucy Liu is Kalypso
Lucy Liu is one of the more famous actresses to have starred in action movies. From "Charlie's Angels" to "Kill Bill," she has proven that she can handle combat in many forms. She will have to do it again as she faces off against one of the most powerful characters in the DC universe. Her comic origins are as non-existent as those of her older sister, but her mythological connection is one that you may well be familiar with.
Kalypso may be a nod to another of Atlas' daughters, Calypso. She, like her sisters, was a nymph who was on an island known as Ogygia, where she detained the famous Odysseus for seven years after the Trojan War before he returned home. Another version of the character (played by Naomi Harris) was seen in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End." There she ruled the seven seas, and sailors both loved and feared her.
Lucy Liu's vengeful version of the character is possibly the most dangerous of the three Daughters of Atlas and is a formidable enemy for the Shazam family.
Rachel Zegler is Anthea
Rachel Zegler is a relative newcomer to movies, but her debut in "West Side Story" has clearly shown that she is ready for the big time. Not only is she playing the third and youngest daughter of Atlas, Anthea, but she is also about to blow up even more as she is set to play Snow White in the Disney live-action remake of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," and will also appear in the next installment of "The Hunger Games" franchise, "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes."
Her character in "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" is a little different in that there isn't any comic book counterpart or even one from the Greek myths. While there is no daughter of Atlas with a similar name, there is a daughter of Zeus whom plenty of people may confuse her for. Athena was the goddess of strategic war and wisdom, which could make her a formidable enemy for any superhero. While we don't want to spoil anything in the film, there are indications that she may be torn between two families, hers and the Shazam family.
Even without a comic book precedent, the Daughters of Atlas are more than a match for the Shazam Family, while the three actresses portraying them are a great mix of two legends and a fresh face.